PM Yingluck backs 'People's Voice against Violence'

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Social Development and Human Security Minister Pavena Hongsakul, standing 3rd and 4th from left, kick off a campaign yesterday to end violence in society.

The "People's Voice against Violence" project is now up and running, with members of the public encouraged to play an active role in ending violence.

"Everyone in society must help in ending violence," Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday at the launch of the project.

Social Development and Human Security Minister Pavena Hongsakul said November was the month designated to campaigning for the elimination of violence against children and women.

"Violence against children and women, including domestic violence, must end," Pavena said.

She said the government had now declared the elimination of violence as part of its national agenda and had already set up a centre to receive complaints about violence which offered assistance to victims.

"We extend help to those victims, regardless of their gender, age, and nationality," Yingluck added.

The launch of the "People's Voice against Violence" project took place at the Thupatemee Stadium yesterday.

Yingluck said that violence would end only if all sectors in society were prepared to lend a hand. She urged everyone not to resort to, or tolerate any form of violence.

"Don't remain indifferent to incidents of violence you have been a witness to," she said, adding that relevant authorities would promote the rights of people to remain free of violence.

The prime minister was all smiles after receiving cheers from people at the stadium - the majority of which were members of the red-shirt Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship.

When asked about the risks of political violence, Yingluck said her government wished for peace and would not resort to using force against demonstrators.

"We respect freedom of expression, which is in line with democratic principles," she said.

Yingluck said police were now working hard to ensure demonstrators remained safe out of concerns that a third party might secretly try to cause trouble.

Asked whether she was worried about the whistle-blowing by demonstrators - a form of protest against her government - Yingluck said she accepted it as a form of expression.

"But if possible, I would like to ask that no one blows whistles at official functions where a sense of unity should be highlighted," she said.

She added that people who were dissatisfied with her government could also use other means to express their opinions.